Hot Cocktails for a Cold Day
As the temperatures dip even further this winter, we know you might be reaching for warmer beverages over your usual chilled cocktails. We don’t blame you. Sometimes, a hot chocolate or a hot toddy is just the thing you need to warm your bones on an ice cold day.
It just so happens that we love our hot cocktails in the winter season, so we’ve compiled a list of some favorites you can make right at home. After all, when it’s really cold, we know you’d rather stay indoors. If you decide to venture out, our Burlington Tasting Room always offers a hot cocktail on our menu through the winter.
These hot cocktail recipes will give you all the cozy and toasty vibes:
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1.5 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
- ½ oz. of fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. of honey ginger syrup
- 2 dashes of El Guapo Chicory Pecan Bitters
- 2 dashes of Vena’s Aromatic Bitters
- Hot Water
Instructions:
Combine ingredients in your favorite mug. Top off with hot water. Stir and garnish with candied ginger and a lemon peel.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum (or Revolution Rye)
- 6 oz. (or less) of prepared Hot Chocolate
- Whipped cream
Instructions:
Measure and pour 1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum (or Rye) into an Irish coffee mug glass. Prepare up to 6 oz. of your favorite hot chocolate mix. Pour the hot chocolate into the mug, and stir well to combine. Top with whipped cream, and enjoy!
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
- 1.5 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
- ½ oz. of fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. of honey ginger syrup
- 2 dashes of El Guapo Chicory Pecan Bitters
- 2 dashes of 18.21 Earl Grey Bitters
- Hot Water
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in your favorite mug and stir well to incorporate. Top off with hot water. Stir again, and garnish with a lemon peel.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
- 1 oz. of demerara syrup
- hot coffee
- 2 oz. of whipping cream
- ½ oz. of Benedictine (or cinnamon syrup)
- cinnamon
Instructions:
In an Irish coffee mug, add the Revolution Rye, demerara syrup and hot coffee. Stir to combine ingredients. In a shaker, combine the whipping cream and Benedictine (or cinnamon syrup) and shake for a full minute until whipped cream is formed. Top the coffee with whipped cream. Grate fresh cinnamon on top.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 6 oz. of prepared hot chocolate
- 1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
- ½ dropper of Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters
- cinnamon stick
Instructions:
Measure and pour the Vanilla Rum into your coffee mug. Prepare 6 oz. of hot chocolate mix and add it to the mug. Add the mole bitters, then stir all ingredients in the mug. Top with whipped cream, freshly grated cinnamon, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
SMUGGLERS COVE HOT BUTTERED RUM
Instructions - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1 tsp freshly ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground anise seed
- 2 sticks salted butter
- 2 cups packed golden brown sugar
- 1 tbsp molasses
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 oz Maple Cask Rum
- 2 tbsp of spiced butter batter
- 6 oz. of hot water
- Whipped cream
Instructions for Buttered Rum Batter:
In a bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, all spice, and anise seed. Set it aside. In a small saucepan, melt the 2 sticks (1 cup) of butter over low heat. Be sure to note the expiration date on the sticks of butter for future reference. Once melted, add the sugar and stir to combine. Next, stir in the molasses and vanilla extract, then add the spice mixture from the bowl. Continue to stir over low heat until all the ingredients are combined. This should take about 15 minutes. Once the ingredients are integrated, remove the saucepan from the heat. Once the butter batter has cooled but is still warm, pour it into a storage container. We portioned the batter into ice cube trays, measuring 2 tablespoons of batter to be used per drink. Allow the batter to cool completely into a solid cube, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Follow the expiration date on the butter packaging. The butter batter should yield about 15 servings.
Instructions for Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail:
Combine all ingredients in an irish coffee mug. Stir until the butter batter is fully incorporated into the hot water and rum. Then, top with whipped cream and cinnamon stick.
The Hot Buttered Rum recipe takes the most preparation, but it’s really incredible, so if you have some free time this winter, be sure to work this into your weekend plans. When it comes to the hot chocolate mix in our hot cocktails above, we recommend Lake Champlain Chocolates, a business neighbor in Burlington. Their hot chocolate mix is excellent, and you can often find it at our Burlington Tasting Room. Visit both of us if you find yourself craving even more chocolate! We also carry bitters in our retail section, so you can pick up a bottle of 18.21, Bittermens and El Guapo there (along with a wide variety of other options). Cheers!
Written and published by Brianne Lucas on December 19, 2023.
MRD Tasting at Northampton Liquors 44
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 16th, 2023 at the Liquors 44 in Northampton, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Christmas Eve Boozy Hot Chocolate!
We’re opening early on Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers with our famous hot chocolate bar! Enjoy free hot chocolate, spike it if you like; or sit and enjoy a myriad of holiday cocktails, including spiked hot chocolate with vanilla rum and homemade whipped cream, Coquitos, Rumtoph, Irish Coffee, and Hot Buttered Rum.
Store Hours 10 am – 3 pm December 24th. Hot Chocolate bar until 2 pm. Drinks until 2:30.
Vert Mont Perfumery Pop-up
Warren based Vert Mont Perfumery has unveiled their newest scent- Bay Rum Vert- a modern version of the classic cologne using Mad River Maple Cask Rum! Experience the scent while you shop for holiday gifts and enjoy a cocktail from the Mad River Distillers menu.
MRD Tasting at Bridge Package Store in Groton, CT
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 at the Bridges Package Store in Groton, CT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Universal Discount Package Store in Norwich, CT
Join Mad River Distillers on Thursday, December 21st, 2023 at the Universal Discount Package Store in Norwich, CT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Coquito for the Holidays
Every year as we approach the holidays, we like to offer a traditional holiday beverage like a tried-and-true classic eggnog. This year, in addition to making eggnog, our Burlington Tasting Room bartender Gragen Cook brought us another delicious sipper inspired by his travels to Puerto Rico—a Coquito!
If you’ve never heard of a Coquito before, it’s a rum cocktail served around the holidays in Puerto Rico. Traditionally, it is made with condensed milk, sweetened coconut cream, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and white rum. You can see how it has similarities to eggnog, which is traditionally made with rum, milk, cream, sugar and egg. The Coquito is like a tropical cousin to eggnog.
In making a Mad River Distillers version of the Coquito, Gragen wanted to try a riff that was vegan (no eggs required!), and also bring more emphasis to the coconut flavor of this holiday beverage. Made with an infusion of our Rum 44, the recipe below will yield 3.5-750ml bottles, which will offer 20-22 servings, making this a great recipe to serve a holiday crowd.
To make an MRD Coquito from home, follow along with the instructions below:
MRD Coquito
Ingredients - Yields 20-22 Servings:
- 1-750ml bottle of Rum 44
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 8 oz. of mixed raisins
- 1-15 oz. can of Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut
- 1-14 oz. can of unsweetened coconut cream
- 1-11.25 oz. of sweetened condensed coconut milk
- 1-48 oz. bottle of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp. Nutmeg
- 1 tsp. Cinnamon
- ½ tsp. Vanilla
To make the Rum 44 infusion:
1. Add the raisins and cinnamon sticks to a 750ml bottle of Rum 44. Allow the raisins and cinnamon sticks to infuse overnight, shaking a few times.
2. After a day, strain the raisins and cinnamon sticks from the Rum 44. Set the raisins aside to be used as a garnish later.
To make the cocktail:
1. Combine the Coco Lopez cream of coconut, unsweetened coconut cream, sweetened condensed coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
2. Combine the cream mixture with the Rum 44 infusion to make the Coquito.
3. To make one cocktail, add 4 oz. of Coquito and ice to a shaker, and shake for 10-15 seconds.
4. Double train into your favorite holiday glass.
5. Grate fresh nutmeg on top.
6. Add 5 rum-soaked raisins to a cocktail pick, then rest over the glass as a garnish, and enjoy!
There you have it! A tropical alternative to eggnog that uses no eggs at all, and can easily serve a large group. If you don’t serve all the Coquito immediately, keep it refrigerated, and consume within 30 days. Be sure to visit our purchase page or stop by our Burlington Tasting Room to get a bottle of Rum 44 for this tasty holiday riff. Cheers!
Recipe by Gragen Cook for Mad River Distillers. Written and published by Brianne Lucas on December 10, 2023.
MRD Tasting at The Country Store @ Jiminy Peak
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at The Country Store at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Westfield Spirit Shop
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th,2023 at the Westfield Spirit Shop in Westfield, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
3rd Annual Huladay Market
Find us at the Third Annual Huladay Market in Burlington, VT on Tuesday, December 12th from 3:00-7:00 PM (EDT) Buy local for the holidays! This great event is open to the public and free for all. More than 65+ Vermont-based craft and food vendors will span throughout the main lobby and event space at Hula. We’ll be there, showcasing our spirits (which will be available for purchase) and offering tastings. Be sure to stop by!
MRD Tasting at Fire at the Ridge Restaurant & Bar
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 at the Fire at the Ridge Restaurant and Bar at the Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort in Middlefield, CT . There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:45pm - 7:00pm, as well as live music. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Julio's Liquors in Westborough, MA
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at Julio's Liquors in Westborough, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at The Country Store at Jiminy Peak
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at the Country Store at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Nejaime's Wine Cellars in Lenox, MA
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 at the Nejaime's Wine Cellars in Lenox, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
